Support for clotheslines and the like



Oct. 25, 1949. J. G. KOESTER SUPPGET FOR CLOTHESLINES AND THE LIKE FiledDec. 12, 1947 INVENTOR. El. KUEEH- ET ATTORNEYS Jinn]:

BY 4 Z;

Patented Oct. 25, 1949 SUPPORT FOR CLOTHESLINES AND THE LIKE Jacob G.Koester, Detroit, Mich. Application December 12, 1947, Serial No.791,261v

3 Claims.

This invention relates to supports for devices such as clotheslines,which supports may be manipulated to displace bodily the devicesupported by it,

An important object of the invention isto provide such supports whichmay be disposed in a location where there is but limited head room, for

example, and by a simple and easily manipulation may be moved eitherinto a lower or operative position so as to be within easy reach or intoan upper or inoperative position so that, in the last-named position, itwill be out of the way.

Another important object is to provide a sup port structure which, whenemployed as a support for a clothesline will not permit the line tov sagunder the weight of the wash hung thereon, either while in a lowered oran upper position.

Still another important object is to provide a support which may bereadily latched in one of two positions.

Yet another object is to provide a support employed to carry aclothesline which is so constructed that the wash hung on the line willnot be apt to become entangled with the support structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description of the invention, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisdisclosure, and in which drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of the novel support in a loweredposition suspended from joists and carrying a plurality of clotheslines.

Figure 2 is an elevation of one half of the novelsupport showing thesame in a collapsed or elevated position.

Figure 3 is a section, substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section, substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the novel support structure is designated as A, means upon which thesupport structure is mounted as the joists B, and clotheslines as C.

The novel support structure A comprises a pair of spaced-apart supportsI 0, each including a pair of slotted brackets H, a pair of elongatedhorizontally-disposed arm portions l2 with an end of each arm portioncarried by and slidable in the brackets l and with an opposite endsection of each pivotally carried by a spaced-apart bracket l3, whichpair of brackets I3 also pivot,- ally carry the upper ends ofspaced-apart, normally vertically-disposed arm portions M with theirlower end sections attached to a horizontally-disposed,article-attaching means or rod I 5; Each support I 0 also includes apair of cross braces 56 pivoted at like ends to the arm portions M andpivoted at their other like ends to the arm portions I2, and means I! todetachably retain the support A in a collapsed position.

Preferably, each slotted bracket H comprises a bent sheet of suitablematerial, as metal, having means to attach it in a depending positionfrom one face of a joist B. This means may be screws 26 extendingthrough suitable perforations in the bracket H- and into the joists B.The slots 2| in the brackets are of a size to accommodate the free endsof the arm portions l2.

Each arm portion I2 is elongated, provided with a perforationintermediate its ends and a perforation at its end section 22, andthrough this last-named perforation extends a pivot 23 which is carriedby a bracket I3.

The brackets I3' each may be an L-shaped section of metal provided witha perforation to accommodate a suitable fastener, as a screw 24 to bedriven into the under face of the joist B.

Each arm portion I 4 is provided at its upper end section 25 with aperforation to accommodate a pivot 23. The lower end section 26 of eacharm portion supports an end section of a clothesline supporting rod 15.

Each cross brace It comprises two portions 21 and 28, pivotallyconnected at their inner end portions as by the pivot 29, and theportion 21 is also pivoted, as by the pivot 39, to the adjacent armportion l2 intermediate its length, while the portion 28 is pivoted, asby the pivot 36 to the adjacent arm portion I4 intermediate its length.The head or protuberance of the pivot 3| extends from the portion 28. Inorder to retain the arm portions 2'! and 28 extended, as in Figure 1, akeeper means 32 is shown more particularly in Figure 4. This keepermeans 32 comprises, preferably, an L -shaped member 33, pivotallycarried by the arm portion 28 as by the pivot 34, and with the section35 of the member 33 normally (when the sections 27 and 28 are extended)contacting the uppermost edge face of the arm portion 27 whereby the twoarm portions are retained extended.

Means l to detachably retain the support A in a collapsed position, isshown as a latch member 36 comprising a pivot-carrying section 37, pivotally connected, as by the pivot 38 to the cross brace portion 21adjacent its upper end section and a stepped section 39 containing anofiset portion 40 adapted to hook over and to the head or protuberance3| of the pivot 3| when the support A is collapsed as in Figure 2. Thismay be accomplished if the latch member 36 has some little resiliency,since the stepped section may be snapped over the pivot head mentioned.

Obviously, as many clotheslines C as desired may be strung from one rod15 to the other rod l5 in fairly taut positions when the arm portions Mare substantially vertical. When these arm portions are thus disposed,the clotheslines C will not sag since the cross braces l6 prevent thearm portions Hi from pivoting toward each other. Neither will theclotheslines sag when the support A is collapsed, as in Figure 2, sinceeach arm section 14 will describe an arc of the same degree.

When Wash is removed from the clotheslines, the support structure A maybe elevated and latched into position out of the way.

It will be noted, in Figure 2, that the elevated position of the supportstructure A disposes it in a compact Way, there are nosaggir'igplotheslines nor other lines or cables in the Way below thesupport structure and there is only a remote possibility that smallchildren may accidentally disengage the elevated support structure andcause it to descend to its lower position.

Various changes may be made to the form of the invention herein shownand described without departing from the spirit of the invention orscope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a support structure, a pair of supports each including a pair ofnormally vertically-disposed, parallel arm portions; a pair ofsubstantially horizontally-disposed, parallel arm portions; a pair ofcross braces, each comprising two jointed portions; meanspivotallyconnecting the first-named arm portions to the secondnamed arm portionsat the upper ends of the former; article-attaching means comprising arigid rod extending from one of said first-named arm portions to theother of said first-named arm portions; means pivotally connecting thecross braces to the first-named arm portions; including a pivot providedwith a head extending exteriorly of one of said cross braces; meanspivotally connecting the cross braces to the secondnamed arm portions;means supporting said second-named arm portions; and means cooperatingwith said head and carried by one of said cross brace portions to retainsaid first-named arm portions in like portions inclined from thevertical.

2. In a support structure, a pair of supports each including a pair ofnormally vertically-disposed, parallel arm portions; a pair ofsubstantially horizontally-disposed, parallel arm portions; a pair ofcross braces, each comprising two jointed portions; means pivotallyconnecting the first-named arm portions to the second-named arm portionsat the upper ends of the former; article-attaching means comprising arigid rod extending from one of said first-named arm portions to theother of said first-named arm portions; means pivotally connecting thecross braces to the first-named arm portions, including a pivot providedwith a head extending exteriorly of one of said cross braces; meanspivotally connecting the cross braces to the second-named arm portions;means supporting said secondnamed arm portions, and means cooperatingwith said head and carried by one of said cross brace portions, toretain said first-named arm portions in like positions inclined from thevertical comprising a member having a portion offset with relation tothe member and constructed and arranged to receive said head.

3. In a clothesline support constructed and arranged to be suspendedfrom a carrier, a pair of supports, each comprising a pair of normallyvertically-disposed parallel arm portions; a pair of substantiallyhorizontally-disposed, parallel, elongated arm portions; means pivotallysupporting said first-named portions at their upper ends to said carrierand supporting said secondnamed portions at like ends thereof to saidcarrier; means supporting the other like ends of said second-namedportions to said carriers; a pair of cross braces, each comprising anupper portion and a lower portion, pivotally connected together withsaid cross braces pivotally connected to said second-named arm portionsintermediate the ends of the arm portions; means pivotally connectingthe cross braces to said first-named arm portions adjacent the normallylower ends of the first-named arm portions, comprising pivots havingheads extending from said cross braces; clothesline attaching meanscarried by said firstnamed arm portions adjacent their normally lowerends, comprising a rigid rod; and means cooperating with said heads toretain said first-named arms inclined from the vertical, carried by saidupper portions of said cross braces.

JACOB G. KOESTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 902,635 Wowra Nov. 3, 1908927,369 May July 6, 1909 1,220,758 Lamphiear Mar. 27, 1917 1,697,977Henryson Jan. 8, 1929 1,995,656 Stout Mar. 26, 1935 2,320,197 RousculpMay 25, 1943 2,343,106v Mullan May 16, 1944

